In November we welcomed our daughter to the world. After six years of trying, after losing the pregnancies that came before her, and being told that I had a 1-2 % chance of conceiving, we were shocked to find out I was pregnant.

The pregnancy seemed so surreal . . . I never expected it to last after our experiences the previous pregnancies. Yet month by month, she grew bigger and stronger and I grew rounder.

Anything to do with beauty, fashion, cooking and fitness took a back burner while I worked on creating a positive home, healthy mind, and healthy body to help nourish our daughter.

Now that she’s here, our lives feel complete. I find myself staring all too often, amazed that she is actually here and actually ours.

Life got a lot busier when she arrived, but you learn to adapt. As we celebrate our first three months with our sweet girl, I find myself ready to rejoin the blogging world.

I’m not certain yet how the growth of our family will impact this blog, but am looking forward to adapting as the next year unfolds.

If you’re still here, thank you for sticking around! If you are just finding me now, welcome! Leave a comment, I love the conversation.

Wishing you a wonderful 2016 full of whatever it is your heart is yearning for. You deserve it!

I must be bored, lonely, or starting to settle in for the winter, because apparently I can’t step away from the blog. I’ve been de-cluttering like crazy around here, and a simpler house and lifestyle leads plenty of time for fun things. In my case, that is cooking/baking, exercise, knitting, and blogging! I stopped saving empties for awhile, but decided to start again in October. I still have far more beauty and skin care items than I would care to have, but I have been very careful in minimizing my purchases. I am still sticking by the “no purchasing more until I have absolutely run out” rule. Or at least, I was until I found out about a $25 off The Shopping Channel code. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye maaaay have made it’s way to my vanity, despite still having a 1/4 full Benefit Erase Paste, a nearly new Fake Up and a brand new Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer. I’ve been so good though!

So this month, I have a lot of full size products. After focusing on samples in August for Sample Killah, I wanted to move on to some bigger items.

Pantene Pro V Ultimate 10 BB Creme

In a nutshell, this just wasn’t for me. The line wasn’t moisturizing enough for my curly hair, and it was too lightweight, leaving me with a frizzy, poufy ‘do. These bottles aren’t actually empty, but I passed them along to a family member who could use them, along with the BB Creme. See my review here.

Neutrogena Rapid Clear Foaming Cleanser

I usually use The Bosy Shop’s tea tree line during the summer, but found myself purchasing some Neutrogena products at Target to use after working out in the morning. This cleanser is a thick white paste that foams nicely – pea size amount was enough for my entire face. I didn’t find it overly drying, and found it helped with my problem areas (chin!), keeping enlarged pores at bay. Most blemishes I noticed were gone within a few days, which I attribute to this cleanser. I’m back to my tree tree cleanser for now, but would likely repurchase. I had to cut the tube since about 1/3 of the product was still inside.

Bath and Body Works Black Raspberry Vanilla

I’m actually not a big fan of B&BW products anymore, aside from the True Blue Spa line, and the candles. I have a TON of lotions and shower gels left, as most of the parents at work will give out B&BW at Christmas time. I’ve been using them as bubble bath, and can’t complain. As a shower gel, I find them very drying.

True Blue Spa Shea Cashmere Hand Scrub

This has to be one of my favourite scents from B&BW – it smells amazing! A very rich vanilla/almond scent. The lotion leaves my hands feeling so soft. While this scrub isn’t the best (the sugar is very coarse), it came in a set with the hand lotion so I was happy to use it up.

I really like these wipes, and a just using up a few more packs of sample size ones before I repurchase. I may get the grapefruit kind – I like to keep them in my bedside table to use on nights were I can’t seem to find the energy to wash my face.

Philosophy Hope In a Jar

I purchased this in a set from Sephora online. The jar was sealed, but I think it was off – the top layer was a bit yellowed, and didn’t absorb into my skin well at all – it would leave little bit of lotion that were almost solid. Once I got toward the bottom of the jar, the consistency was much lighter and absorbed well. The scent was a little strong. The lotion absorbed quickly, but it just wasn’t amazing for the price. I’m still in search of a new daily moisturizer, though I’ll probably revert back to my tried and true Aveeno Positively Radiant.

Lancome Teint Idole Fresh Wear

This is my all time favourite foundation ever. Which means I shouldn’t be surprised that it has been discontinued. I managed to order a new ones off eBay to get me through the next few months, but then I will have to find a new favourite!

MAC Trace Gold

This was my bronzer of choice for the spring and summer – it didn’t read as orange on my skin, and a light dusting over my nose, forehead and cheekbones left me looking sunkissed and radiant. It does have some shimmer, but it was very fine and read more as a glow on me. I’ve moved on to some other bronzers for now, but it is a contended for repurchase next year.

Olay Professional Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex

I liked the texture, it absorbed quickly, no dry skin under my eyes – I love my Philosophy Miracle Worker eye cream for night, but this was a great alternative for day. I’ve moved on to Origin’s GinZing eye cream, but it was a great few months with Olay!

M Asam Perfect Teint

I read that a lot of people loved this product, so I swapped for a small pot it. A little went a long way, but I just didn’t love the product. I have nothing bad to say about it, but if I am to purchase another primer in the future, I want it to have a pump or tube so I don’t have to dip into a pot each day.

L’Oreal Voluminous in Blackest Black

My all time favourite mascara – this with the Lancome lash primer = my ideal lashes. I’ve been using it since it first came out, and always have another tube waiting. I usually have 1-2 other tubes open at any given time for variety, but Voluminous is my favourite!

Thank you for joining me for another monthly favourites. I’d like to try to write an overview of what is left in my stash before the end of the year, as I would like to try to continue working away at my products in 2015. Hopefully my blogging gusto continues and I will actually get around to it!

Some of the products featured were provided for review. All opinions are my own.

I don’t often write about products that didn’t work for me, as I like to write about those I would recommend to others. However, sometimes it’s no necessarily that the product itself is bad, it’s just that it didn’t work for you. This was the case with the Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 line, which was sent to me by Bzz Agent to review. I had the opportunity to try the Ultimate 10 Shampoo, Conditioner, and BB Creme, and gave all three products a two week trial during which used no other products.

I found the shampoo, conditioner, and BB creme to appear to be a thick consistency, but when I actually applied them to my hair, the texture was quite light and not as thick as most Pantene lines. The shampoo lathered well and left my hair feeling clean, but the conditioners thinner texture just didn’t moisturize my dry ends as much as I like. The BB Creme is also a thin consistency, and it did not proide the shine, frizz fighting, and split end repair that I usually get from my usual hair serums and oils. My hair was left frizzy, poufy, and dry at the ends after my two week trial with the line.

For reference, my hair is long, curly, dyed, and dry at the ends. I decided to give the remaining bottles to my sister in law, who has chin length, fine, thin hair. Her experience with the line was the exact opposite of mine. She found the line moisturized her thin hair without making it look oily, or weighing it down. She also found that her hair had a bit more volume than usual.

I thought this would have been perfect for my hair type, but ultimately, it wasn’t the best match. If you have thinner hair that is in need of repair and shine, it may be a good option for you. I myself will continue using Pantene’s other lines for now, as I still love how most of their shampoo and conditioners work for my hair.

The products featured were provided to me for review by BzzAgent. All opinions are my own.

While many of you may be familiar with Nail Polish Canada (the same company that ran an awesome promotion when Glymm jumped ship), you may not have heard of their newest sister site, Obsessed Canada. Obsessed Canada has more of a beauty focus, carrying over 125 brands including The Balm, Sigma, Lime Crime,Velour Lashes, Eco Tools, and many more. Shipping is free for orders over $25, and $3 for orders over $25.

Obsessed Canada recently contacted me, asking if I would like to try out a few varieties of Maskeraide masks. Already a fan, I happily agreed, and soon after “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up”, “Detox Diva” and “All Nighter” arrived at my doorstep. It actually took a little longer than expected to receive them, but I did not order them through the website, so I can’t speak to what the usual speed of delivery would be.

I usually try to do a mask each Sunday, so it was easy enough to incorporate the masks into my routine. I’ve tried several of Maskeraide’s other varieties in the past, and find them very effective in producing short term effects. Upon removing the mask, your skin is smooth, hydrated, and even toned. I try to save them to use several hours before an event, leaving my skin prepped for makeup application.

The All Nighter mask contains peppermint oil, aloe, argan oil, and a variety of other ingredients meant to detoxify, depuff, and refresh your skin. This mask smelled of mint, and felt refreshing on. I used it the morning after a late night study session, leaving it on long past the recommended 20 minutes as I sipped coffee and knit in bed. My skin felt great afterward, and I decided to forgo makeup that day to give my face a break.

The Detox Diva mask contains geranium oil, seaweed, and green tea leaf extract to help minimize pores and fight impurities and free radicals. Thanks to an, ahem, hormonal surge, my skin was less than cooperative the weekend I used this mask, and the blemishes I did have calmed down some after the mask was off. I left this mask on longer than the 20 minutes recommended as well, with no negative effects. While my skin felt clean, it did not feel stripped, as it sometimes does after I use some of my tea tree skin care when I am breaking out.

The I Don’t Wanna Grow Up mask contains a variety of ingredients meant to help reduce fine lines. I feel that the entire line of Maskeraide masks helps to hydrate skin in the period shortly following, which does “plump” your skin, helping fine lines to appear less prominent. I don’t notice any long term effects, but do enjoy the experience of the mask, as well as the impact it has on my complexion shortly after application. I used this mask before a wedding last weekend, and love the glow my skin has afterward – no dry, flaky skin to be seen.

The masks come very well saturated in a thin, clear gel. I like to use the remaining gel on my chest, neck, and the back of my hands. I’m also sure to rub in any leftover serum after I remove the mask.

Maskeraide masks can be purchased from Obsessed Canada here for $6 each. My only wish? I would love to see the ability to bundle and save, such as four masks for $20 I’m a girl that loves to get the best value for my dollar, so I would also love to see the addition of a Hot Deals tab, much like the one on Nail Polish Canada.

This post features products sent to me from Obsessed Canada for review. All opinions are my own.

I’ve reached week four of Sample Killah. Thanks to Kalyn for hosting – it’s been a lot of fun and I have gone through far more samples than I had thought I would be able to. I’m going to continue using samples for the remainder of the week, and will then switch back to some full size products. Participating in Sample Killah has helped reinforce the fact that I do not need to purchase any more beauty products at this time. I’ll continue to use them up, repurchasing only when I actually run out of something. I plan to continue this until Sephora releases their holiday Favourite’s collection – I purchase one every year!

This week I’ve used a few Arbonne samples that were too small to determine anything. A Vichy serum that was quite nice, like a lightweight lotion, but a little too scented for my liking. Not a fan of the Rimmel Stay Matte foundation or the Origin’s Vitazing, despite the hype. The Marcelle moisturizer I really like – I actually keep a full size jar in my fridge for when I return from the gym or being outdoors. The Philosophy Miracle Worker was also very nice – I plan to purchase the full size with my holiday Sephora purchase.

Next up were some Garnier Fructis samples – I’ve previously written a review of the line here. The Montagne Jeunesse masks are actually turning out to be one of my go to masks for a quick refresh before a night out – I used these before a bachelorette party and a bridal shower. The Aveeno shampoo/conditioner weren’t my favourite – I’ve actually found I don’t like their body wash either. The Philosophy conditioner and H20 shower gel didn’t leave me wanting to repurchase.

Lastly, I went though a few skin and dental products. I usually use Jergen’s Natural Glow during the winter, but hadn’t used the 3 Days to Glow line yet. It left me pretty orange, which the regular Jergen’s doesn’t do. Nothing compares to the Just Being Sexy, which had a VERY strong bronzer that left me a ridiculous shade of – well, bronze. It wasn’t orange, but a deep, dark, shimmery brown. It also transferred like crazy, but left a pretty nice tan after I showered the next morning.

So my total for Sample Killah?

Week 1: 15

Week 2: 20

Week 3: 32

Week 4: 30

Total: 97

I definitely didn’t plan on using close to 100 samples this month, but once got started I was on a roll. I plan to finish up a few more tomorrow to finish July with 100 products used.

I did surprisingly well this week, considering I spent five days without running water, electricity, or cell service. Don’t worry, there wasn’t a natural disaster or anything – I just went camping with my husband for our anniversary. I didn’t actually finish them all this week – some were nearly empty in the shower at home, while others I finished last week after my Week 2 update.

If you have been keeping up with my prior posts, I have been participating in Kalyn Lord’s Sample Killah during the month of July. The goal being to use up as many little sample packs as possibly during the month. I’ve been so successful I may just keep on going into August to tackle some of the smaller tubes and jars.

Starting with haircare, lots of John Frieda samples, as well as some I received in the mail. The Fekkai and Garnier conditioning masques were quite nice. My hair has been getting twice weekly masques this month and my lack of split ends tells me I should keep the habit up!

Skincare included a Philosophy Miracle Worker night cream – it is absolutely amazing and would probably would have purchased already if I didn’t have a few night creams to use up. I usually splurge on some skincare sets from Sephora at Christmas each year, and this has made the shortlist for my 2014 shopping bag. Also included was a Lancome serum and Kiehl’s moisturizer that didn’t meet my expectations after all of the hype I had read/watched online. Some Arbonne eye creams that were nice, but not my favourite. Biotherm serums which are always lovely – one day I will purchase a full size bottle. It’s hard for me to justify doing so when the outlets in the US sell the three step skin care lines for $30, and the serums for $20.

The last bits include some facial wipes, a body lotion (not a sample though), some perfume swtches, floss, mouthwash, and sunscreen. It rained two of the days we were camping do I didn’t use a ton, but this sunscreen held up over a 4.5 hour hike up and down a mountain. No tan lines or burns, and I didn’t reapply until we got back to the trail head. It also didn’t get all gross and slimy when I started to sweat. Impressive!

How am I doing so far?

Week 1: 15

Week 2: 20

Week 3: 32

Total: 67

That is 67 less foils, tubes, jars, and vials left cluttering my house. Feeling accomplished, and thankful to Kalyn for hosting Sample Killah.

I leave you with a picture taken directly from our campsite. Definitely can’t complain about life in Northern Ontario!

It’s been nearly a week, and I’m pretty proud of my progress. I’m running low on foils, so have been finishing off the last bits of some bigger sample sizes. If you missed last week post, I am participating in Kalyn Lords Sample Killah 2014, and trying to use up as many samples as possible in the month of July.

Elin Bianco Treatment Mask: love this. Held onto it far longer than I should have, but a replacement is over $50. One day.

Fekkai Technician Colour Care: Used as a leave in mask for 3 hours, left my hair shiny and smooth, but it didn`t last past the next wash.

John Frieda Dream Curl Line: Left my curls soft and voluminous. Used a VERY small amount of the Calming Creme to avoid greasy hair.q

Biotherm Blue Therapy Serum In Oil: Can`t really tell from the sample, the texture was nice, left my skin moisturized and absorbed quickly. Can`t determine any results from the sample size.

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer: Nice, but too lightweight for me. This is the first of the new primers from Smashbox I have tried, would love to try some other options as I do love the Smashbox primer.

Eucerin Hyal-Urea Anti-Wrinkle Night: Not really notable other than it was`t too greasy.

Weleda Pomegranate Firming Serum: Smells really nice, didn`t see an impact by the end of the tube.

Nivea Creme: I tried the new version of this creme last week, and prefer it over the original. This cream is too thick and I have a hard time getting it to absorb.

Philosophy body wash sample: This was a hotel sample, and it definitely was not a legit Philosophy body wash. I always have a full size on hand in a various scent, and this wasn`t nearly the same in texture, lather, or lasting power on a loofah.

Lise Watier Desirable: Used to be my signature scent, but have moved on to Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb and Lancome Le Vie est Belle.

Jergens Ultra Care: Unscented, fast absorbing, but not my favourite.

Bourjois Eye Makeup Remover: Actually did a surprisingly good job at removing a variety of mascaras. This tiny bottle lasted quite a while, only a very small amount was needed.

Tresemme Fresh Start: Used to be my go to, but I find as I get to the bottom of the bottle I get a white cast. I`m finishing up a bottle of Principessa dry shampoo now, and then will need to research a new one to purchase. Yay!

Origins Samples: I can`t purchase Origins locally, but was interested in trying the line. During my last trip to the US’ the lovely Origins lady provided me some samples of their `must try`items. I loved the GinZing facial wash – the beads provided just enough exfoliation, my skin was left clean and not stripped, and the scent was a perfect wake me up in the morning. I was also given a small sample of the Clear Improvements mask, which took a bit of trial and error to master. Applying it to my entire face was too drying to my cheeks. Spot applications on my nose, forehead and chin left my skin feeling very clean but still a bit dry. I haven`t seen any changes yet, but will likely purchase a deluxe sample size to try it over a longer period of time.

Progress thus far:

Week 1: 15 samples

Week 2: 20 samples

Current total: 35 samples

If you would like to follow along with others who are participating in Sample Killah, you can check out Kailyn`s blog here.